The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has charged all broadcasters covering the Anambra State Gubernatorial Election to take note of the provisions of the Extant Electoral Law(s), the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, and other relevant regulations guiding the broadcast of elections in Nigeria.
This is just as the Commission implored all broadcasters to desist from using or allowing their platforms and facilities to be used for the broadcast of contents that may lead to the breakdown of law and order.
The Director General, Balarabe Shehu Ilelah who made this known in a statement on Thursday, noted that for the avoidance of doubt, Broadcasters are advised to note the following Sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code which provides that the Broadcaster shall:
- 3.11.1(a) ensure that language or scene likely to encourage or incite to crime, or lead to disorder, is not broadcast;
- 3.11.1(b) ensure that no programme contains anything which amounts to subversion of constituted authority or compromises the unity or corporate existence of Nigeria as a sovereign state;
- 5.4.1(f) not transmit divisive materials that may threaten or compromise the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a sovereign state.
- 5.3.3(j) ensure that the broadcast of a partisan political campaign, jingle, announcement and any form of partisan political party identification or symbol ends not later than twenty-four hours before polling day;
- 5.3.3(k) not use any vote obtained at a polling station or from an exit poll to project or speculate on the chances of a candidate;
- 5.3.3(l) relay election results or declaration of the winner only as announced by the authorized electoral officer for the election;
- 5.3.4 In exceptional circumstances, a government functionary may perform a service relating to his/her office within the 24hour campaign restriction period, provided there is no coloration of partisanship by the official or the broadcaster.
He further stated that, “The NBC ACT CAP N11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, also prescribes, in the Third Schedule 12(6) that “A Licensee shall be responsible for the content of the Station’s Broadcast.
“Please, note that any Broadcaster that breach any of the above listed provisions of the Code shall be liable to severe penalty”, the statement concluded.
